Krav Maga

defender steps between his opponent's arms and strikes with an uppercutpunch (Figure 4-9) to the chin or jaw. The defender then follows up with blows to his opponent's vital areas.

(9) Knife-hand strike to side of neck. The defender executes a knife-hand strike to the side of his opponent's neck (Figure 4-10) the same way as thehammer-fist strike (Figure 4-6, page 4-11) except he uses the edge of his striking hand.

(10) Knife-hand strike to radial nerve. The opponent tries to strike the defender with a punch. The defender counters by striking his opponent on the top of the forearm just below the elbow (radial nerve) (Figure 4-11) and uses a follow-up technique to disable his opponent.

Figure 4-11. Knife-hand strike to radial nerve.

(11) Palm-heel strike to chin. The opponent tries to surprise the defender by lunging at him. The defender quickly counters by striking his opponent with a palm-heel strike to the chin (Figure 4-12), using maximum force.

Figure 4-12. Palm-heel strike to chin.

(12) Palm-heel strike to solar plexus. The defender meets his opponent's rush by striking him with a palm-heel strike to the solar plexus (Figure 4-13). The defender then executes a follow-up technique to his opponent's vital organs.

Figure 4-13. Palm-heel strike to solar plexus

(13) Palm-heel strike to kidneys. The defender grasps his opponent from behind by the collar and pulls him off balance. He quickly follows up with a hard palm-heel strike to the opponent's kidney (Figure 4-14). The defender can then take down his opponent with a follow-up technique to the back of his knee.

Figure 4-14. Palm-heel strike to kidneys.

b. Elbows as Weapons. The elbows are also formidable weapons; tremendous striking power can be generated from them. The point of the elbow should be the point of impact. The elbows are strongest when kept in front of the body and in alignment with the shoulder joint; that is, never strike with the elbow out to the side of the body.

(1) Elbow strikes. When properly executed, elbow strikes (Figures 4-15 through 4-21, pages 4-18 through 4-22) render an opponent ineffective. When using elbow strikes, execute them quickly, powerfully, and repetitively until the opponent is disabled.

Figure 4-15. Elbow strike to face,

Figure 4-16. Elbow strike to temple,

Figure 4-17. Rising elbow strike.

Figure 4-20. Elbow strike to biceps.

Figure 4-21. Elbow strike to inside of shoulder

(2) Repetitive elbow strikes. The attacker on the right throws a punch (Figure 4-22, Step 1).

The defender counters with an elbow strike to the biceps (Figure 4-22, Step 2). The attacker follows with a punch from his other arm.

The defender again counters with an elbow strike to the shoulder joint (Figure 4-22, Step 3). He next strikes with an elbow from the opposite side to the throat.

Figure 4-22. Repetitive elbow strikes.

c. Knees as Weapons. When the knees are used to strike opponents, they are especially potent weapons and are hard to defend or protect against. Great power is generated by thrusting the hips in with a knee strike; however, use the point of the knee as the impact surface. All knee strikes should be executed repetitively until the opponent is disabled. The following techniques are the most effective way to overpower or disable the opponent.

(1) Front knee strike. When an opponent tries to grapple with the defender, the defender strikes his opponent in the stomach or solar plexus with his knee (Figure 4-23). This stuns the opponent and the defender can follow up with another technique.

Figure 4-23. Front knee strike,

(2) Knee strike to outside of thigh. The defender delivers a knee strike to the outside of his opponent's thigh (common peroneal nerve) (Figure 4-24). This strike causes intense pain and renders the opponent's leg ineffective.

Figure 4-24. Knee to outside of thigh,

FM 91-1M

(3) knee strike to inside of thigh. An effective technique for close-in grappling is when the defender delivers a knee strike to the inside of his opponent's thigh (peroneal nerve) (Figure 4-25). The defender then executes a follow-up technique to a vital point.

Figure 4-25. Knee to inside of thigh,

(4) Knee strike to groin. The knee strike to the groin is effective during close-in grappling. The defender gains control by grabbing his opponent's head, hair, ears, or shoulders and strikes him in the groin with his knee (Figure 4-26).

(5) Knee strike to face. The defender controls his opponent by grabbing behind his head with both hands and forcefully pushing his head down. At the same time, the defender brings his knee up and smashes the opponent in the face (Figure 4-27). When properly executed, the knee strike to the face is a devastating technique that can cause serious injury to the opponent.

Figure 4-27. Knee strike to face,

CHAPTER 5